(Newser)
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Despite the odds stacked against Republicans, GOP analysts are cautiously saying that John McCain will not only win, but he might do so by a comfortable margin, Politico reports. When Obama’s specific and geographical weaknesses are played against McCain’s strengths, the result adds up to a win of up to 50 electoral votes, more than President Bush's 35-vote win in 2004.

“The broader environment clearly favors the Democrat,” said one GOP pollster, but “a state-by-state analysis actually makes McCain a narrow favorite to win the electoral college majority.” Further, strategists say, any other Republican candidate would never have had a shot. Even a Democratic pollster notes: “The truth about this race (is), this is the year that we shouldn’t lose, and we could lose.”